Grammar
Simple present: habits, facts, questions, and negatives
Do you say he live here or he lives here? One small letter changes everything.
Use the simple present for habits and general facts. This guide helps you choose the verb form for each subject.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
lives LIVZ
The short answer
Use the base verb with I, you, we, and they. Add s or es with he, she, it, a singular name, or another third-person singular subject.
I live in London, but my brother lives in Sydney.
Why it works: Use live for I, and add s for my brother.
3 more examples
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Morning routine
She walks to work every morning.
Add -s because the subject is she.
Not this:She
walkto work every morning. What changes: The sentence sounds incomplete without the -s ending. -
Dietary habit
He doesn't eat meat on weekdays.
Use doesn't with the base verb eat.
Not this:He
doesn't eatsmeat on weekdays. What changes: Adding -s twice makes the verb form wrong. -
Asking about a habit
Do you drink coffee after dinner?
Start with do when you ask about you.
Not this:
Does you drinkcoffee after dinner? What changes: Does does not match the pronoun you.
Quick check
Which sentence talks about a daily habit?
Talking about a morning routine
Answer: She drinks tea every morning.
Show the answer
Answer: She drinks tea every morning.
Use the simple present for regular habits. Add -s for she.
Read the full guide
Use the simple present to describe routines, facts, and states. The form changes in a few clear places.
Habits, facts, and routines
The problem: I forget to put -s on the verb when I talk about he, she, or a singular person.
With he, she, it, David, or the train, change the verb ending to s or es.
-
Not this:
My brother live in London.Say: My brother lives in London.
My brother is a third-person singular subject, so live becomes lives.
| Person | Verb form |
|---|---|
| I / You / We / They | work |
| He / She / It | works |
Your turn
Which sentence has the correct verb form?
Answer: David lives near the park.
Show the answer
Answer: David lives near the park.
Add s to live for the third-person singular subject David.
Adding s with he, she, it
The problem: I keep the -s on the verb after doesn't or does.
A negative sentence brings a helper into your words. When you use doesn't, that helper already carries the ending. Keep the main verb in its base form.
-
He doesn't work on Sundays.
Why it works: Work stays in its base form after doesn't.
-
Does she speak French?
Why it works: Speak stays in its base form after does.
Your turn
Choose the correct negative sentence.
Answer: Mark doesn't eat meat.
Show the answer
Answer: Mark doesn't eat meat.
Use doesn't with the base verb after a third-person singular subject such as Mark.
Daily routines versus right now
The problem: I use the -ing form when talking about regular habits and daily routines.
Use the simple present for a usual routine. The present continuous can describe current or temporary actions. The time and context guide your choice.
Repeated actions and general facts.
I drink tea every morning.
An action happening now or around the current time.
I'm drinking tea right now.
-
Not this:
I work on the report right now.Say: I'm working on the report right now.
Use the present continuous for an action in progress right now.
Your turn
Which sentence describes a repeated routine?
Answer: We walk to school every morning.
Show the answer
Answer: We walk to school every morning.
Use the simple present for repeated daily habits.
Ask and answer daily questions
The problem: I mix up do and does when I make questions and negatives.
You want to ask about a friend's weekly schedule. Start with do for I, you, we, or they, and use does for a third-person singular subject. After do or does, use live, not lives.
- Elena
Do you drink coffee every morning?
- Liam
Yes, I do. My sister prefers tea.
Your turn
Put the words to form a question.
Answer: Do you live near here?
Show the answer
Answer: Do you live near here?
Questions with you start with the helper Do.
Before you go
Question 1 of 2
Complete the sentence with the correct helper.
Talking about preferences
Answer: She does not like cold weather.
Show the answer
Answer: does
Use does with she for negatives and questions.
Question 2 of 2 · One new sentence
You are at the library. How do you explain your brother's habit to the clerk?
At the library counter
Answer: My brother works nearby, so he borrows books here every Friday.
Show the answer
Answer: My brother works nearby, so he borrows books here every Friday.
The third-person singular subject my brother takes works and borrows in these affirmative habit statements.
Remember this
Do not add s after does or doesn't. Use the base verb in negatives and questions, then check the subject of each statement.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Simple present: habits, facts, questions, and negatives"
When do we use the simple present?
Use the simple present for routines, repeated actions, facts, and states that are generally true. Time words can show how often an action happens.
I walk to work every day.
Water freezes at zero degrees Celsius.
When do I add s to a simple present verb?
Add s or es with a third-person singular subject: he, she, it, a singular name, or one singular noun. Do not add it with I, you, we, or they.
She works on Fridays.
They work on Fridays.
How do I make a negative sentence in the simple present?
Use do not or does not before the base form of the main verb. After does not, the main verb has no s ending.
I do not drive to work.
He does not drive to work.
How do I ask a simple present question?
Start the question with do or does, place the subject next, and use the base form of the main verb.
Do you live nearby?
Does she speak French?
Can the simple present describe something happening now?
The present continuous often describes an action happening now or a temporary situation. The simple present covers habits, general facts, and many state verbs.
I understand the question.
She is talking on the phone now.
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